NEW motorcycle ADV duffle bag / backpack for your next adventure by Viking
Updated: Oct 5
I've been really enjoying everything that I've owned so far from Viking.
Viking makes amazing luggage right here in Southern California. I think they're headquartered in Anaheim. I like to support local business and it's just great products at really great prices. I've had their their backpack for over two years now of everyday use, even when I travel, and you can take a look at that review on our channel. I have their Apex tank bag as well, but this review is about the Odyssey duffel bag. This is an adventure touring kind of expedition style duffel
bag. There's no internal pockets, so it's just stuff it and put it together and you're kind of ready to go. The material is a hard plastic that's really easy to wash. I like that it's black because it's it's kind of a stealth when you need to find that place to to camp that wasn't really planned, but maybe you got chased by a storm and maybe you're even trespassing and it's kind of nice to be hidden away.
My my former luggage has always been by Wolf and they went out of business, I think last year, which is really unfortunate. They've been making great bags in the United States which were really well made, but now that they're no longer in the market, it's really nice to have a competitor and these are local here to Anaheim, Southern California, which I always appreciate. So the 30 L duffel bag has also served me great for for gym runs and even for
grocery runs. It's got really high quality buckles and this MOLLE front end which you can connect carabiners to is also removable. You have this waterproof document pocket which is always very useful when you are adventure touring to have that accessible. I also
like the fact that it has this very easy buckle system for the mole part because if you want to take off your jacket, you can just put it here, extend the mole a little bit and there it is.
It’s easily stowable and you don't have to be digging through it. You don't have to go through your luggage. It's right there. So, I really like that part. It connects to the bike in a very generic way with these straps that you kind of find a place for them. They look sturdy enough. We'll have to review the long-term ownership, but um yeah, they they're not stretchy kind of like the
rock straps, which I've been used to, but they're plenty long, so you can kind of find your own uh method to how to connect it to the bike. And then there's two grab handles on each side, which of of course always appreciated. So, it doesn’t really travel on the seat or move a lot. And then when you unroll it, you have 30 liters of space and there's no pockets on the interior.
There's a Velcro that closes it and then you roll it whichever way you want. And you have a watertight system with glued seams and it seems very, very sturdy.
It comes with a duffel bag carrying handle you can remove and adjust. So, you can wear it as a duffel bag. But the best part in my opinion about this bag aside from this piece
which which as I mentioned allows you to put a jacket and extra shirt and is that it comes with these straps that make the back a backpack which is really great. And the strap also has a sternum connection, which to me makes it so much more comfortable. And then you hide it in the rear pocket which is also water resistant. So, if you don't want that floating around, if you're not going to use that, it's good to put that there. Why it's useful is this situations where you find yourself with a passenger that you didn't intend. Maybe a biker broke down or you meet somebody you need to take and and they can put this on their bag and you have an extra seat that's now usable.
So, it's a very attractive bag and very easy to clean, which I also appreciate. I've also, of course, owned Mosko Moto bags that are of a material that gets dirty to the touch and every time you're adjusting them, you get your hands dirty and then you put it in your gloves, you touch your eye and your eyes affected. It's like one thing after another. So, I like this because this is very easily washable at a car wash. If you get super dirty, just spray it down, it can take it.
It goes well with the This is the Odyssey kind of expedition adventure touring collection. And this is the Apex 7 L tank bag. Really, really attractive tank bag with a bunch of pockets and of course the the water pack, the hydration pack inside. We'll review that separately, but again, I'm a huge fan. So I've been a real fan of Viking. I think they're making great products and it seems like their adventure touring either Odyssey or the Apex line is something to consider. So if you're considering one, it's on sale right now from their website. Thanks for reading, Stay safe and until the next one. Nik
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